Grapple-fork



R. G. FERRIS Nov. 30, 193 7.

GRAPPLE FORK Filed April 1, 1956 Patented Nov. 30, 1937 .UNITED- STATES GRAPPLE-FORK Robert G. Ferris, Harvard, 111., assignor to Starline, Inc.,' Harvard, 111., a corporation of Illinois . Application April 1, 1936, Serial No. 72,171

7 Claims. (01. 294-107) My invention'relates to grapple-forks for use more particularly in shifting hay from one location to another, as for example from-a Wagon into a loft, or vice versa, and comprising groups of tinesadapted to be manipulated toward each other into carrying engagement with the hay to pick up'aload thereof, and away from each other to discharge the load.

One of my'objects is to provide a construction of grapple-fork whereby the work required of the operatorin positioning the fork for taking a load, is greatly lightened; and the fork is better adapted to satisfactorilyperform under the various conditions met with in practice.

Another object is to provide a grapple-fork which while greatly minimizing the Work required of the operator, will not be subject to the objection of the tines becoming tangled with the suspending means therefor resulting from the 20 dropping of the fork when collapsed upon the hay and the subsequent tauting of the supporting means for the-tines; the purpose in this connection beingto provide a construction wherein the tines are adapted to be individually manip- 25 ulated relative to each other with the advantages resulting therefrom, but without the possibility of such tangling of the parts as to interfere with the proper functioning of the device to carry and discharge a load; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure In a perspective view of a grapple-- Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the lock block forming a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Figure 3, a fragmentary plan section, the View being taken at the line 3 on Fig. land viewed in the direction of the arrow;

According to the particular illustrated embodiment of myinvention, the fork comprises two groups'of tines '4, each group being shown as comprising three of the tines each of which is formed of an upper bar section 5 and a load engaging portion 6 at its outer end and disposed preferably at substantially a right angle thereto.

The tines of 'one group are reversely disposed relative to the tines of'fth'e other group as shown in Figfl'whe'reby wheirthe fork is operated, as hereinafter described, to take a load, the load engag- 55 ing portions 6 of the two groups of tines engage the load from opposite sides thereof and swin toward each other into load carrying position.

The inner ends of the tines 4 of each group are connected together in a manner to permit the tines to be manipulated independently of each 5' other but without becoming so disarranged at their inner, connected, ends as to permit them to become tangled, as they are very apt to do it connected together by a chain or similar element. To accomplish this end the connecting 10 means referred to are in the form of an element which cannot become doubled, or folded, upon itself and prevents the tines from becoming disarranged as above pointed out, maintaining them against tangling; the element according to the 1!! preferred illustrated construction comprising a loop or link member 1, shown by way of example as of ring form, relatively rigid as distinguished from the characteristics of a chain as above noted, and on which the tines 4, at their inner ends, are strung, preferably loosely, as shown, the apertures in the tines through which the ring extends being represented at 8. a

The construction shown also comprises a chain 9 having a ring Ii) midway between its ends, the chain being secured at its end portions to the links or rings 1.

Each group of tines 4 is provided with a bridlechain shown as formed of three chain sections ll shown as connected at their outer ends to clevises 12 secured to the respective tines 4, and at their inner ends with a snap-hook I3 of common construction.

The grapple-fork is shown as associated with hoisting and controlling mechanisms as commonly employed with forks of this kind, these mechanisms comprising a lock-block I4 having a recess I5 to receive the ring In below which is a pivoted keeper I6 for holding the ring ID to the block I4, the keeper It being urged by a spring (not shown) into locking position and withdrawable therefrom through the medium of a pivoted lever I! actuated to a position for withdrawing the keeper [6 from looking position by means of a pull-rope l8. 7

The lock-block I 4 is provided at its opposite sides-with eyes l9 to interlock with the snap-hooks l3, and is supported from block and tackle mechanism represented at 20 and which in practice may be supported to depend from a carrier (not shown) movable along a track (not shown) as is common in hay-carrier apparatus, the connec-" tion 'betweenthe lock-block l4 and the hoisting mechanism being preferably releasable, as

for example by providing the hoisting mechanism with a hook 2| having a pivoted keeper 22.

In the use of the fork it is lowered to the hall to be lifted as for example to a position in which the tines 4 rest on the hay in unsupported condition by the hoisting mechanism; and the operator then, by individually manipulating the tines independently of each other, positions the several tines, byinserti g them into the hay and forcing them downwardly, at opposite sides of the portion of the hay which is to comprise the load. to be lifted. The hoisting mechanism is then operated to raise the fork, the ring l0 being locked to the lock-block M. In this position of the parts the lifting force exerted by the hoistingrnecha nism is exerted on the tines 4 at their connections with the rings 1, whereby the tines are swung inwardly at their portions. fl-toward the, mass of hay between the latter causingaloadof hay to become cradled in the fork, in carrying positiom. Uponreaching the point at which the load is-ito be dumped; the operator pulls on,the cable l8;;which withdraws the keeper "Land-releases the chain9;from the block l4 whereupon: the; weightof :the, loadis free to. exert ,a spreading action on; thetines ,(the support of .thetines having; thlLSrbecome shiftedto the, connections between; the bri le-chains II and the, tines) anddrops frqmthe fork.

Aswilljoe readily understoodgfrom the foregoe ingpther dropping; of: the grapple-fork construction uponthehay, ,even to athoroughly collapsed position, cannot result; in thetines becomin tangled; and not assume their proper positions relative to eaoh other upon actuating the hoisting mechanismin viewroflthe, characteroi the connections, as above described, between the in,- ner ends of the tines of each group, these .COII'. nections, however, permitting, ofthe obtaining,

inlthis construction, of all ofv the advantages of the;type of grapple-fork in which-each tineis capable of individual, manipulationindependent:- ly of the others, but withoutpossibilitygof, tangling and disarraDEfiIDBnt, as;- above ,set forth.,,

While I haveillustrated and described aparticular oonstructionrembodying my, invention, I do not wish to be understood as intendingtodimit it thereto as thesame may, bevariously modifiedand altered without departing lfromvthei spirit: of. n ntio What I claim, as. new, and desire; to secureby Letters lEatent,,is:

'1. In a grapple-fork, a plurality,of individually; separate; tines, a plurality of ,means flexibly connecting together saidtines inseparate groups, respectively, each comprisinga link member hav ing an openingtherethrough, said tineshavingopenings atwhich they are strung v as groups on said members in theopeningsthereof adapting -said tinesfor swingingmovement on said members independently of each other. 7

2. In a grapple-fork, a plurality of individually; separate tines, a plurality, of means flexibly connecting. together said tines in separate groups, respectively, each comprising a substantially rigid, link member having an opening thereth rol h, Said tines having openings at which they are. strungfas groups on said membersv adapting said tines for swinging movement on said members independently of each other, and

flexible means connecting said rigid members together.

3: In a grapple-fork, a plurality of individually separate tines, a plurality of means flexibly connecting together said tines in separate groups, respectively, each comprising a ring member, said tines having openings through which said ring member is threaded adapting said tines for swinging movement on said member independently of each other.

4. In combination, a support, a grapple-fork comprising groupsof individually separate tines, means adapting said tines of "each group to have bodily rotational movement relative to each other and releasably connecting said tines to said supportiatvtheir inner spaced apart ends comprising a ring for each group said tines having openings through which, said rings are threaded, adapting said" tines for swinging movement on said rings independently of each other, and means, adapting said tines to have rotational movement connected to said support and to said tines at points outwardly beyond the connections of; said first-named mean with saidtines for controlling the position of saidztines.

5. In; combination a; support, a,grapple=fork-: comprising groups of individually/separate tines, means adapting said tines to have. bodilyzrota? tional movement relative; to each other, andzsre: leasablyconnectingsaid times to, said-support; at their inner spaced apartends-comn isin z li-nkr, member; for each of said groups of tines, respectively, having openingstherethrough, said; tines; having. openings. at which they; are strungas, groups on said members; adaptingsaidtinesior; swinging movement on said members independently of each othe a and;meansiadapting said tines, to have, rotational movement connected. to said support .and to said tines at points outwardly,- beyond the connections, of. said, first-named means with said ,tines; for. controlling the positionof said tines,

6. In combination, a, support, agrapple-fork comprising groups, of individually separate, tines, meansadapting said tines ,to have bodily, rotational movement. relative= toeach other and reeleasably, connecting said tines, to .said,.support at their, inner, spaced; apartiends, comprising, rings, for said groups of tines, respectively, ,said, tines having openings I at. which they are 1 strung; on said; rings, adapting said tines ,for swinging and lateral movementonsaid. rings independently, of; each other, and; means adapting said, tines, to,- have rotationalmovementconnected tosaidsupport anditosaid tines atpoints,outwardlybeypnd theqconnectionsgoi ,saidfirst-named,meansmitha said, tines for, controlling, the. position of 5911412 tines;

7. In combination, a support aagrappleefork, comprising groups ..of individually, separatetines. means adapting, said, tines toehave bodily, rota: tional movement relative to each other and re leasably connecting ,saidctines. ,to said, support ,at their inner spaced apart'endsv comprising ringit for said groups of tines,,respectively-,,saidtines; haying. openingsatwhich they. are strungpn said rings adaptingsaidtines .for, swinging and lateral movement on. said; rings independently of, each, other, flexible means, connecting said ,ringsto: gether, and ,means, adapting said, tines; to, have, rotational movement connected to, said support. andto said tines at points outwardly; beyondgthe,

connections .oi saidiirst-named meanswith; saidk' tinesfor controllinzthe position of said tines. ROBERI, 

